Penn in the News

It seems, all of a sudden, that there’s a rush among policy makers in Washington to chop off questions from the 108-question Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA.

Benjamin Wiggins and Erick Hyde of the School of Arts & Sciences and Robert Ghrist of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Arts & Sciences comment on video animation

Maximilian Kinne’s eyes scanned the room of the fraternity house. He wasn’t looking for a friend, a pretty girl, or the nearest bar. He was looking for trouble. Because on that night, he wasn’t partying, he was working. Mr. Kinne was monitoring a party at his own fraternity at Dartmouth College. A lot of rowdy freshmen were entering the house. They weren’t aggressive, but they were stumbling around a bit. Mr.

Amita Sehgal of the Perelman School of Medicine is mentioned for researching signs of sleep debt.

Yasmin Kafai of the Graduate School of Education co-writes a letter to the editor about children and technology education.

Daniel Langleben of the Annenberg Public Policy Center is quoted about studying the effect of graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging saying, “We also found that these labels were better remembered and associated with a greater reduction in craving for cigarettes.”

The outbreak of measles in the United States is leading some institutions to change rules or practices. Meanwhile, cases of norovirus have spread to a third college in Virginia. The two diseases have drawn more attention to the risk of epidemics on campuses, where masses of students and employees work and study together and, at residential campuses, live in close quarters.

Kevin Werbach of the Wharton School comments on the Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal.

J. Scott Armstrong of the Wharton School shares his thoughts on top executive positions, talent and luck.

Damon Centola of the Annenberg School for Communication is highlighted for research on how social norms emerge and the rise in popularity of certain baby names..